Apparatus used in the construction of fire-hydrants and the like.



M. GLARKSON. APPARATUS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF'PIRE HYDRANTS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 24, 1909.

Patented Julie 25 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANMRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

M. GLARKSON. APPARATUS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF-FIRE HYDRANTS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION IILED APR. 24, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4. f Z I V E J F l m H :L i M I W 1 m m N N a COLUMBIA PLANOOQAPH 60.,WASNINGI'0N, D. c.

M. OLARKSON.

APPARATUS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE HYDRANTS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED APILM, 1909.

1,030,384, Patented June 25,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMDIA PLANOORAPH C04, WAIHINGDN, D. C.

ES PATENT OFFIC.

MICHAEL CLARKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-HYDRANTS AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MioHAEL CLARKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus Used in the Construction of F ire-Hydrants and the Like, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates more particularly to the apparatus for molding and constructing the concrete upper portion of fire-hydrant basins, and the like.

The object of said invention is to pro vide means for the construction of such basins in an economical and expeditious manner; whereby a platform may be constructed between the top and bottom of the basin that divides the same into an upper and lower chamber, also the contracted upper portion of said basin, and also an integral top or surface covering for the same.

A further object of my invention is to nake these improved means knock-down and capable of being easily set up, and after use taken to pieces and removed through the' hatchways of the platform and surface covering. This I accomplish by the means hereinafter fully described, and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of an incomplete hydrant basin illustrating the way in which my improved apparatus is set up for use. Fig. 2 is a similar section of the upper portion thereof taken on dotted line 2, 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1 showing the upper portion of the completed basin, in the construction of which my invention is adapted to be used. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of my improved apparatus taken on dotted line l, 4, Fig. 3 showing the apparatus for making the platform, in position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a collapsible former for making the throat or upper part of the said basin or well. Fig. 6 is a perspect-ive view of the templet for making the trap door in the platform of the same. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the templet used for making the opening in the platform for the passage of the hydrant pipe. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a modified construction of a hydrant basin, in the construction of which my improvements may be used. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of an ordinary catch basin in the construction of the contracted Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 492,047.

construction of which my improved devices are adapted to be used. The hydrant basin referred to may have the walls A of the lower portion built of brick. I prefer, however, to make them of concrete. If made of brick the top course terminates a suitable distance below the surface of the walk or road and above this brick the basin is construoted of cement or concrete walls 13. The inner surface of this concrete portion contracts as it extends upward, and the top of the basin is closed by an integral floor C. Near one side of the basin this floor C is provided with a suitable opening a, down through which the supply-pipe Z) of the hydrant D extends. The basal flanges of the hydrant rest upon the edges of said opening and cover it, and in order to make said opening water-tight, tarred paper or other suit able packing is placed beneath said flanges. Floor C is also provided with a rectangular elliptical or other suitable shaped hatchway, the edges of which are beveled, and which is closed by a suitable trap-door (Z, having corresponding oppositely beveled edges. One end of said hatchway connects, preferably, With said opening, but it is obvious, may be disconnected therefrom if desired.

A suitable distance below floor C; preferably at the lower end of the contracted upper portion of the basin the latter is provided with an integral cement or composite stone platform E that divides the interior of the same into an upper and lower chain ber. This platform is provided with an opening 6 similar to that in the floor C, with which it alines, and also with a correspondbasin, per se, but is confined principally to the .means for molding the upper portion of the basin just described.

After building the Walls of the lower portion of the basin with brick or concrete to the plane of the platform E, I build a temporary platform consisting of a center preferably, of an elongated rectangular or plate, which is made of two sections '2 and 3, and two side plates 4:, it. The meeting edges of the two sections of the center-plate abut in the vertical plane of the segment of opening 6 nearest the center of the basin, and I prefer to make the orifice in this temporary platform registering with the opening 6 preferably in the meeting edge of the shorter section of said center plate. longer section of said center plate extending from said orifice diametrically across the basin is provided with a hatchway, which is,

of an elliptical shape, and is of suliicient dimensions to permit of the passage of the body of a workman down through said platform E, when the latter has sufiiciently set to support itself to enable the temporary platform and its supporting structure to be knocked down and removed. When the center and side plates of the platform are assembled their outer edges describe a circle corresponding in circumference to the inner diameter of the basin, and they are supported by cross-beams 5, 5, arranged transversely under their ends; which latter, are, in turn, supported by uprights 6, 6, whose lower ends rest upon a horizontally disposed plank 7 that rests upon and is supported at its ends by the heads on the upper ends of the vertically adjustable members of the jack-screws 8, 8. The meeting edges of the sections of the center-plank of said temporary platform rest upon a cross-bar, 9, which, in turn, is supported at its center of length by an upright, 10, standing upon plank 7. The employment of these jackscrews, 8, enables me to obtain the correct vertical adjustment of the parts of the temporary platform in the proper horizontal position to construct the platform E in the proper plane. After this temporary platform has been built, I surround the orifice in section 3 of its center-plate (registering with and corresponding in diameter to opening 6 in platform E), with a cylindrical templet 11. This templet, 11, is provided with the basal flange that rests upon the temporary platform; the length of its cylindrical portion corresponds to the thickness of the completed platform E, and the side thereof nearest the center of the basin is provided with a removable longitudinally extending section 12, the width of which corresponds to the width of the hatchway, substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. v

The trap-door F for the hatchway in said platform, E, is made with the same material at the same time as said platform. I employ a U-shaped sheet metal templet 13 for this purpose, whose lower edges con form in length and width to the hatchway made in the center-plate of the temporary platform, and when assembling the devices The i set and harden.

for constructing the platform E I place under this templet a sheet metal plate 25 that corresponds in shape to said trap-door, but is of such increased dimensions that it laps over and rests upon the edges of the hatchway in said center plate. The sides of this templet 13, are inclined outward fro-m the lower edges thereof, and the height of the same corresponds to the thickness of platform E, when made. when the parts of the temporary platform, and templets 11 and 13, are thus properly assembled in the manner and positions hereinbefore stated, the cement or other plastic concrete material is spread over and built upon the temporary platform and likewise in templet 13 to the pro-per height, and then allowed to Before the spreading of the cement or concrete is done, however, I prefer to place a couple of cylindrical sleeves, 26, upon the temporary platform; one, just beyond the end of the templet 13 farthest from the supply-pipe of the hydrant, and the other diametrically opposite on the other side of said pipe. These cyl inders provide openings for the insertion of uprights 14, 14, that rest upon the lower temporary platform after the concrete platform hasbeen built. The upper ends of these uprights are made to support crossbars 15, that come under and support the ends of the center and side-plates of an up per temporary platform upon which the cover or floor closing the upper end of the hydrantbasin is built. This upper temporary platform is, preferably less in diameter than the lower temporary platform and is likewise constructed of a center-plate comprising two sections, 16 and 17, and two side plates, 18, 18, and has a templet, 19, for the pipe-opening in said floor, and a templet 20 for the trap-door and hatchway of said floor that are constructed substantially like corresponding parts used in connection with the lower temporary platform. After the parts of said upper temporary platform have been properly assembled and arranged in place, and the templets, 19, and 20, properly placed thereon, I drop down over the same a circular former 21, which latter consists of a series of longitu dinally disposed sections, whose vertical edges, at about their centers of length, are provided with knuckles that are connected by removable pintles 22; which latter can be easily inserted and removed, either to set-up or knock-down said former. The upper edges of each orseveral of the segmental sections are provided with inturned lugs 23 which, when the former is dropped into operative position catch upon the edges of the upper platform and suspend the former in concentric position. This former is so constructed that it is less in diameter at its upper end than at its lower, and it is of such length that its lower edges terminate in the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the completed platform E.

After the concrete platform E, has been built up, the concrete material is dumped into the excavation around the former and tamped down, and then after this has been satisfactorily done the concrete is spread over the upper platform until the upper surface is level with the roadway or pave ment, and the templet 20 is filled even with its upper edges. The concrete is then permitted to set for several days, until it be comes so hard that the floor over the top of the basin can be walked upon. The trap-door in said upper floor is then removed, and the workman reaches down herethrough and lifts the trap-door in the concrete platform, E, and then lowers himself through both hatchways into the lower chamber of the basin. The jackscrews are then lowered, and the uprights removed and the several parts of the temporary platform, are separated and handed up through the hatchways to a companion above. When the center-plate of the lower temporary platform is removed, the uprights l t, 14:, fall down through the sleeves in which theirlower ends were seated, and their removal permits the cross-bars 15, and the center and side-plates of the upper temporary platform to fall'apart, so that, by reaching down from above they can be easily removed. One or more of the pintles 22 connecting the sections of the former 21 are then removed, and said sections are collapsed one upon the other so as to fold the former into such compass that it can be easily withdrawn from the hatchway in the floor 7. This done the insulating material is then put in position, and the sleeves 26 removed and the openings left thereby filled with cement as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and then the supply pipe of the hydrant may be passed down through the same, or, if said hydrant is already in place, the casing inclosing said pipe, which is provided with a longitudinally disposed removable section, is made to surround the said supply-pipe, between the top of the platform E and the basal flange of the hydrant, and the annular space filled in with insulating material, substantially as shown and as fully described in the companion application for Letters Patent of the United States for the said catch basin filed April 24th, 1909, Serial Number 492,046.

In Fig. 8 I show a modified form of a hydrant-basin which is adapted to be constructed by my improved device with the exception of the upper temporary platform. In this modified hydrant-basin I provide the upper end or contracted mouth of the basin with an angle iron rim R, the basal flange of which is inserted in the surrounding concrete, and I cover this rim with a metal cover, J, whose edges lap over and are seated upon the upper edge of said rim. The only difference in the construction of the former for affecting the contraction of the upper portion of this modified hydrant basin is that the upper edges of the sections thereof should be provided with outwardly projecting lugs that rest upon the upper edges of said angle-iron rim, and the latter, before the concrete was poured into the surrounding excavation, will be supported by brick or pieces of wood resting upon the brick wall of the lower portion of the hydrant-basin so as to bring the upper edges of said rim up to the level of the street or pavement.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings I show how the former can be used without either upper or lower temporary platform or templets used in conjunction therewith, to construct the upper contracted end of an ordinary catchbasin. purpose it is, preferably, comparatively greater in length than when used in the construction of hydrant-basins. In making the upper portions of these catch basins, an iron rim K, for the mouth of the same, is placed in position above and concentric to the vertical axis of the lower portion of the catch basin, and is propped up so that its upper edge is level with thegrade of the surrounding street or pavement, by means of brick or pieces of wood inserted under the basal flanges of said rim and resting and supported upon the upper end of the brick lower portion of the catch-basin. The former, L, is collapsed and inserted down through the rim until it can be opened out and expanded to its fullest extent whereupon it is lowered until the lugs 70, 70, restupon the rabbeted seat for the cover in the upper edge of said rim. In this position the lower edges of said former should depend down into and past the upper edge of the walls of the lower portion of the basin, and whenthe concrete is dumped into the eX- cavation surrounding said rim and former and tamped down the upper contracted portion of the basin will be completed. When this kind of a catch-basin is made it is only necessary, after the concrete has set to collapse and remove the former in the manner hereinbefore indicated.

From the foregoing descriptions it will be. observed that one of the principal advantages accomplished by the use of my improved device is that ordinary common laborers, such as are engaged in the construction of the surrounding concrete pavement or side walk may be employed, as all that it is necessary to do is to set up and knock-down the parts of my improved devices and tamp in the concrete material.

The necessity for the employment of expert hen the former is used for this masons to make the contracted upper portions of the basin is entirely obviated, and, having reference to the preferred form of basin in the construction of which my improvements are designed to be used, a hydrant-basin is made that dispenses with the employment of considerable labor and mabelow the top of the basin and consisting of several plates arranged side by -side, one of which is provided with an opening there through, and with a hatchway, and templets supported by said platform for defining said opening and hatchway and means for supporting said plates.

2. Apparatus for building hydrant-basins comprising a knockdown temporary platform adaptedto be located below the top of the basin, and having an opening therein for the passage of the supply pipe of the hydrant and a hatchway therethrough, a templet conforming to and extending said opening through the finished platform and a templet for defining .the edges of said hatch- Way therein.

3. Apparatus for building hydrant basins comprising a circular shaped collapsible former consisting of several longitudinally disposed sections removably connected together, a temporary knockdown platform adapted to be located in said basin below the lower edges of said collapsible former and a temporary knockdown platform at the upper end of said former.

4:. Apparatus for building hydrant basins comprising a circular shaped collapsible former consisting of severallongitudinally disposed sections removably connected together, a temporary knockdown platform adapted to be located in said basin below the lower edges of said collapsible former and a temporary knockdown platform at the upper end of said former and removable means supported by said lower platform for bold ing up said upper platform.

5. Apparatus for building hydrant basins comprising a circular shaped collapsible former consisting of several longitudinally disposed sections removably connected together, a temporary knockdown platform adapted to be located in said basin below the lower edges of said collapsible former, removable means for supporting said platform,

and a temporary knockdown platform at the upper end of said former.

6. Apparatus for building hydrant basins comprising a circular shaped collapsible former consisting of several longitudinally disposed sections removably connected together, a temporary knockdown platform adapted to be located in said basin below the lower edges of said collapsible former, removable means for supporting said platform, and a temporary platform at the upper end of said former and removable means including uprights supported by said lower platform for holding up said upper platform.

7. Apparatus for building hydrant basins comprising a circular shaped collapsible former consisting of several longitudinally disposed sections removably connected together, a temporary knockdown platform adapted to be located in said basin below the lower edges of said collapsible former, removable means for supporting said plat form, and a temporary platform at the up per end of said former and removable means including uprights, whose lower ends are loosely incased in sleeves for holding up said upper platform.

8. Apparatus for building hydrant basins comprising a temporary plat-form consisting of several plates the central one of which is made in two sections, the end edges of which abut, and in one of which sections the principal part of the opening for the passage of v the supply-pipe and the other of said sections is provided with a hatchway, and suit-- ably supported cross-bars for supporting said plates.

9. Apparatus for building hydrant basins comprising a temporary plat-form consisting of several plates the central one of which is made in two sections and end edges of which abut, and in one of which sections the principal part'of the opening forthe passage of the supply-pipe andthe other of said sections is provided with a hatchway, a cylindricaltemplet conforming in diameter to and mounted upon, said section over said opening and asuitable 'hatchway templet for extending upward the edges of said hatchway, cross-bars for supporting said plates, and adjustable means for supporting said cross-bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy signature this 9th day'of November,

MICHAEL GLARKSON.

Witnesses:

E. K. LUNDY, FLORENCE MITCHELL.

'flopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

